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Foundational Family Services

Assisting families to support their child’s development

To Register

View our upcoming service calendar

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Foundational Family Services are available free of charge to all families registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP).

Navigating life with autism can be a journey of discovery and growth for families. The Foundational Family Services program is designed to empower families with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to navigate the journey confidently.

We offer a wide range of evidence-based supports provided in various formats to help caregivers learn how to best support their child or youth with autism. They include:

Online registration is quick and easy, with no intakes required. Families can choose to access these services at any point based on their needs, at no cost. There are no limits to the number of times families can register for Foundational Family Services.

If you have any questions about our Foundational Family Services or would like support navigating community resources, please call 416-925-5141 ext. 2590, or contact FoundationalFamilyServices@surreyplace.ca .

Frequently Offered Sessions

We offer over 25 different service options that provide training and resources at various points in your autism journey.  For example, some families with a recent diagnosis may appreciate “Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder”. Families with children interested in social interactions may find “Supporting Social Skills” useful. Many of our sessions also include a 1-1 follow up consultation after attending.

February 26, 2026
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

OAP – Supporting Mental Health in Teens

This session explores the factors that can help or hinder the mental health and well-being of adolescents with Autism. Topics include having conversations with your teen about mental health, the caregiver experience, strategies you can implement to support your teen’s mental health, and available services and supports that can help your family thrive.

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February 27, 2026
10:00 am – 12:00 pm

OAP – Getting Started with Toilet Training

Ready to start toilet training? In this session, you’ll learn how to recognize signs of readiness, explore different toilet training methods, and discover teaching strategies to guide your child through the process. This session is appropriate if your child is just beginning toilet training or if you’re looking for extra guidance.

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March 4, 2026
12:30 pm -1:30 pm

OAP – Let’s Chat Breaks from School: Preparing for Success

Changes to routine, such as snow days, sick days, PA days, and school breaks can be challenging for autistic children and their families. This interactive, parent-led session is a judgment-free space where caregivers can bring questions about preparing for and navigating breaks from school. Topics include camps, recreation programs, unstructured days, last-minute changes, and planning for expected and unexpected days off school. Families are invited to submit one question when registering. Facilitators will address common questions, followed by time for additional questions and discussion.

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March 12, 2026
11:30 am – 12:30 pm

OAP – Let’s Chat Autism: Moving Forward After a Diagnosis

Receiving an autism diagnosis can bring many questions about what comes next. This interactive, parent-led session offers a judgment-free space for caregivers to ask about next steps, services, supports, funding options, and planning for care. Facilitators share foundational guidance and families can learn from each other’s experiences. Caregivers are invited to submit one question when registering. Common questions will be addressed first, followed by time for discussion.

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March 16, 2026
11:30 am – 12:30 pm

OAP – Let’s Chat Routines, Motivation, and Visual Supports

Daily transitions and routines can be challenging for autistic children and their families. This interactive, parent-led session is a judgment-free space where parents and caregivers can bring questions about using routines, visual supports, and motivation strategies to make daily moments smoother. Ask about moving between activities, handling non-preferred tasks, building routines, using visuals, and increasing cooperation. Families are invited to submit one question when registering. Facilitators will address common questions, followed by time for additional questions and discussion.

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March 25, 2026
11:30 am – 12:30 pm

OAP – Let’s Chat Appointments: Preparing for Success

Medical and personal care appointments can be stressful for autistic children and their parents. This interactive, parent-led session offers a judgment-free space to ask about setting your child up for success before, during, and after appointments. Families are invited to submit one question when registering. Facilitators will address common concerns and themes first, followed by time for additional questions and discussion. This session is ideal for parents and caregivers who want realistic, compassionate support and a place to ask the questions that don’t always get asked.

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  • ABA Essentials for Caregivers
  • Caregiver Connect: A Parent Support Group
  • Community Resources and Funding
  • Dealing with Challenging Behaviour: A 2-Part Series
  • Family Resource Clinic Days
  • Getting Started with Toilet Training
  • Healthy Sleep Habits
  • Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Increasing Daily Living Skills
  • No Fair! How to Teach Emotional Regulation
  • Orientation to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
  • Parent Advocacy
  • Supporting Mental Health in Teens
  • Supporting Social Skills
  • Teaching Early Communication Skills
  • Triple P Group Stepping Stones

Why Register?

All events and services in our Foundational Family Services program are completely free for families registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). Whether you’re looking for practical strategies to support your child’s growth, planning for long-term goals, or simply seeking a community of understanding and support, we are here for you every step of the way.

Benefits of Participation:

Interested in registering?

Browse our calendar to view all services.

BROWSE CALENDAR

Wellness Events

Did you know that we offer free events for clients, caregivers and professionals?

BROWSE EVENTS

Resource Library

Find accessible information developed by our clinicians to help you on your journey.

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By 2 months

Has your baby had their hearing screened? YES NO

By 6 months

Does the child?

Startle in response to loud noises? YES NO
Turn to where a sound is coming from? YES NO
Make different cries for different needs (hungry, tired)? YES NO
Watch your face as you talk? YES NO
Smile/laugh in response to your smiles and laughs? YES NO
Imitate coughs or other sounds such as ah, eh, buh YES NO

By 9 months

Does the child?

Respond to their name? YES NO
Respond to the telephone ringing or a knock at the door? YES NO
Understand being told no? YES NO
Get what they want through using gestures (reaching to be picked up)? YES NO
Play social games with you (Peek-a-Boo)? YES NO
Enjoy being around people? YES NO
Babble and repeat sounds such as babababa or duhduhduh? YES NO

By 12 months

Does the child?

Follow simple one-step directions (sit down)? YES NO
Look across the room to a toy when adult points at it? YES NO
Consistently use three to five words? YES NO
Use gestures to communicate (waves hi/bye, shakes head for no)? YES NO
Get your attention using sounds, gestures and pointing while looking at your eyes? YES NO
Bring you toys to show you? YES NO
Perform for social attention and praise? YES NO
Combine lots of sounds together as though talking (abada baduh abee)? YES NO
Show an interest in simple picture books? YES NO

By 18 months

Does the child?

Understand the meaning of in and out, off and on? YES NO
Point to more than 2 body parts when asked? YES NO
Use at least 20 words consistently? YES NO
Respond with words or gestures to simple questions (Where's teddy? What's that?)? YES NO
Demonstrate some pretend play with toys (gives teddy bear a drink, pretends a bowl is a hat)? YES NO
Make at least four different consonant sounds (p ,b, m, n, d, g, w, h)? YES NO
Enjoy being read to and sharing simple books with you? YES NO
Point to pictures using one finger? YES NO

By 2 years

Does the child?

Follow two-step directions (Go find your teddy bear and show it to Grandma.)? YES NO
Use 100 to 150 words? YES NO
Use at least two pronouns (you, me, mine)? YES NO
Consistently combine two to four words in short phrases (Daddy hat. Truck go down.)? YES NO
Enjoy being around other children? YES NO
Begin to offer toys to other children and imitate other children's actions and words? YES NO
Use words that are understood by others 50 to 60 per cent of the time? YES NO
Form words or sounds easily and without effort? YES NO
Hold books the right way up and turn the pages? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 30 months

Does the child?

Understand the concepts of size (big/little) and quantity (a little/a lot, more)? YES NO
Use some adult grammar (two cookies, bird flying, I jumped)? YES NO
Use over 350 words? YES NO
Use action words such as run, spill, fall? YES NO
Participate in some turn-taking activities with peers, using both words and toys? YES NO
Demonstrate concern when another child is hurt or sad? YES NO
Combine several actions in play (puts blocks in the train and drives the train, drops the blocks off.)? YES NO
Put sounds at the beginning of most words? YES NO
Use words with two or more syllables or beats (ba-na-na, com-pu-ter, a-pple)? YES NO
Recognize familiar logos and signs involving print (Stop sign)? YES NO
Remember and understand familiar stories? YES NO

By 3 years

Does the child?

Understand who, what, where and why questions? YES NO
Create long sentences using five to eight words? YES NO
Talk about past events (trip to grandparents house, day at child care)? YES NO
Tell simple stories? YES NO
Show affection for favourite playmates? YES NO
Engage in multi-step pretend play (pretending to cook a meal, repair a car)? YES NO
Talk in a way that most people outside of the family understand what she/he is saying most of the time? YES NO
Have an understanding of the function of print (menus, lists, signs)? YES NO
Show interest in, and awareness of, rhyming words? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 4 years

Does the child?

Follow directions involving three or more steps (First get some paper, then draw a picture and give it to Mommy)? YES NO
Use adult type grammar? YES NO
Tell stories with a beginning, middle and end? YES NO
Talk to try and solve problems with adults and with other children? YES NO
Show increasingly complex imaginary play? YES NO
Talk in a way that is understood by strangers almost all the time? YES NO
Generate simple rhymes (cat-bat)? YES NO
Match some letters with their sounds (letter b says buh, letter t says tuh)? YES NO